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Planning when you will take standardized tests is an important part of any college admissions strategy. While it’s important to give yourself ample time to study before the exam, it’s also essential to ensure that you’ll receive your scores鈥攁nd have enough time to re-take the exam, if necessary鈥攂efore your earliest college deadlines. Accordingly, if you’re planning to take the ACT in the current fast-changing and fluid college admissions landscape, you must first develop a plan of attack. Let鈥檚 begin by looking at the ACT test dates and registration deadlines for 2024-25.

ACT Test Dates 2024-25

ACT test dates are offered in seven different months for the 2024-25 school year. The dates are as follows:

How do I know which ACT test dates are right for me?

College-bound students should sit for the ACT at some point during 11th grade. The goal is to maximize your exposure to a standardized test-relevant curriculum while also leaving yourself time to retake the test once or twice.

Before deciding when to take the ACT for the first time, a high schooler should ask oneself the following questions:

1)What level of math have I completed?

This is one of the most important considerations for 11th graders in determining when to first sit for the ACT. Here is a quick glance at the breakdown of math content covered by the ACT:

• Number & Quantity: 7-10%
• Algebra: 12-15%
• Functions: 12-15%
• Geometry: 12-15%
• Statistics and Probability: 8-12%
• Integrating Essential Skills (applying middle school-level math concepts): 40-43%

So, what鈥檚 the takeaway from all of this? In essence, students need to at least get close to completing Geometry and Algebra II in order to be fully prepared for the ACT. If you are taking Algebra II during junior year, you may want to wait until the late spring to begin your standardized test journey. If you are an advanced math student who already has these courses under their belt by the commencement of junior year, you could consider sitting for a fall test date (of junior year). However, exposure to trigonometry and statistics will also help with some of the more advanced questions featured in both exams.

2) Am I taking AP courses junior year?

If you plan on taking multiple AP courses/tests junior year, then early to mid-May is going to be a hellish time already full of intense prep work and exam-taking. Students in this situation are wise to target ACT test dates that fall during September, October, or December of their junior year.

Alternatively, you could plan to take the test in February or April to avoid standardized testing overload in May. This typically works out fine for such individuals because those on the AP track have typically covered the vast majority of the math subject matter by this juncture.

3) How much time do I need to study?

Research shows that studying for the ACT yields positive results. Thus, it is critical for students to carve out time for concentrated study prior to taking the exam. Students should begin studying during the summer prior to the start of their junior year. That way, they’ll have plenty of time to brush up on skills and engage in targeted practice on any areas of relative weakness.

We recommend fully utilizing the which is offered free of charge by the company that makes the test. Alternatively, if you’re looking for self-study or private tutoring options, check out our list of recommended tutoring and test prep providers.

4) Will my plan let me take advantage of superscoring?

On average, students who retake the test end up with composite scores 2.9 points higher than their single-test counterparts. Moreover, 57% achieve a higher composite score upon sitting for the test for a second time; an even higher percentage see an increase in at least one subject area. This can be immensely beneficial, especially in light of what is known as “superscoring” 鈥� where colleges take the best combined subject scores across multiple test administrations.

While the vast majority of schools superscore the SAT, ACT superscoring policies are more variable (for a complete list, view our database of standardized testing policies). When accepted, superscoring gives you a great strategic advantage because it allows you to focus solely on the areas where you want to improve. For example, if you take the ACT in April of your junior year and score a 30 on the English test and a 23 on math, you can, in effect, 鈥渂ank鈥� your verbal score and focus 100% of your attention on sharpening your math skills.

However, those who wait until senior year to take the ACT will miss out on the opportunity to retake the test, thus missing out on the full benefits of superscoring.

Do I have to take the ACT?

Here’s the super-short version…testing policies at many universities have been in constant flux over the past five years. While some colleges have permanently adopted test-optional or test-flexible policies, others are announcing returns to standardized testing requirements (sometimes without much notice), meaning that you could be at a disadvantage for certain schools if you have not developed a plan for standardized testing.

While a complete list of current Test-Optional Colleges can be found in our Dataverse, applying test-optional may or may not be a wise choice. We encourage you to read our blog entitled Should I Apply Test Optional to College?

ACT Test Dates 鈥� Takeaways

• Get to know the ACT test dates and registration deadlines for 2024-25, and make a plan!
• Take the ACT for the first time during the first or second semester of your junior year.
• Factor in AP test dates to avoid standardized testing burnout.
• Leave yourself room to take the test again before the summer of your senior year. You also may wish to test a third time, if necessary, during the fall of senior year.
• Spend ample time studying. Research shows that studying for the ACT produces results.
• Superscoring is your friend. Plan on sitting for the test two or three times.

Looking for additional ACT resources? Check out the following:

• ACT Calculator
• SAT to ACT Conversion Chart
• What is a Good ACT Score?
• When Do ACT Test Scores Come Out?